The ECOWAS Parliament has adopted a landmark resolution directing member states to immediately protect street children, end child exploitation, and remove them from the streets across the sub-region.
The resolution was passed during the parliament’s 2026 First Ordinary Session on Thursday in Abuja.
Lawmakers also mandated the Speaker to transmit the resolution and the accompanying joint committee report to the President of the ECOWAS Commission, for onward submission to the Chairman of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers.
The joint committee – comprising Social Affairs, Gender, Women Empowerment, People with Disabilities, Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Trade, Customs and Free Movement – had earlier held a delocalised meeting in Freetown, Sierra Leone, in April.
Key provisions of the resolution
MPs noted that street children “are among the most neglected groups in society”, often exposed to the gravest human rights abuses.
Under the resolution, member states are required to:
· Adopt and implement comprehensive domestic strategies for street children, including clear objectives, timelines, and dedicated budgets aligned with international child rights standards
· Strengthen enforcement of child protection laws
· Guarantee access to free, inclusive education, healthcare, birth registration, identity documents, and child-friendly justice systems
The parliament also urged the ECOWAS Commission to develop a harmonised regional framework on street children, expand its Child Rights Information Management System to support data-driven policymaking, and strengthen coordination with governments, civil society, and development partners.
Root causes and cross-border action
Lawmakers stressed the need to tackle the root causes of the crisis by expanding social protection programmes for vulnerable families, particularly single-parent households affected by poverty, displacement, and family breakdown.
Preventive measures recommended include community child protection mechanisms, parental support services, psychosocial assistance, and public awareness campaigns to combat discrimination and social exclusion.
Recognising the cross-border nature of child trafficking and exploitation, the parliament called for referral systems, safe repatriation protocols, and information-sharing mechanisms among member states.
It also emphasised scaling up capacity-building support for national institutions in child protection, child-friendly justice, and law enforcement.
Thursday’s sitting was held under the theme: “Parliamentary Approach to the Protection of Street Children and the Fight Against the Exploitation of Children in the ECOWAS Region.”
